On 6 May 2016 the Government of Kenya announced a decision to close the Dadaab camps by the end of the year.

More than eight out of ten refugees surveyed by MSF say they do not want to return to Somalia, with the main concerns cited including fear of forced recruitment into armed groups, sexual violence and the non-availability of healthcare.

Although the health situation in Dadaab is far from stable, on return to Somalia, refugees are likely to face a far worse scenario. In much of Somalia, health services are basic or non-existent. Among the myriad of likely health crises, children will be more vulnerable to malnutrition, people with chronic diseases will no longer have guaranteed access to life-saving treatment, and those suffering from severe mental health disorders without continued medication will suffer serious effects.

MSF is calling for other alternatives to be urgently considered by the Government of Kenya and the UNHCR, supported by donor countries.

These more durable solutions, such as smaller camps in Kenya, increased resettlement to third countries, or integration of refugees into Kenyan communities, must be put on the agenda of policy makers.

MSF first started working in Dadaab in 1992 and is currently the only provider of medical care in Dagahaley camp.

Staff are working in the 100-bed hospital in Dagahaley camp and at two health posts, providing outpatient and mental health consultations, surgery, and antenatal, HIV and TB care.

Overall in 2015, teams carried out 182,351 outpatient consultations and admitted 11,560 patients to the hospital.